"Sweet Treats: Thanksgiving, Ed. 1"

I made some delish desserts for our Thanksgiving dinner, my mom did all the heavy cooking. Anyhoodle, everyone raved about how wonder my goodies were (thanks!).  I love to bake, always have, but even I surprised myself.

I have never done a cooking/baking post before so bare with me.

When I started taking pictures I was just doing it b/c I am a huge dork, then I though "I should blog this stuff!" So here we are. The pics get progressively better, well for a baking blog.

I started my baking for Thanksgiving on Tuesday evening. 

I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies w.a Glaze:

Ingredients: 

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon Pumpkin pie spice, 2 cups (1/2 the bag) semisweet mini chocolate chips, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup butter, softened (not pictured), 1 1/2 cups white sugar, 1 cup (1/2 a can) canned pumpkin puree, 1 egg (not pictured), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all the ingredients together until well blended, then slowly add chocolate chips.

Dough should be smooth and slightly orange in color.

 For the Glaze: 

• 2 cups confectioners' sugar (Pictured above)
• 3 tablespoons milk (Not pictured)
• 1 tablespoon melted butter (Not pictured)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (above)

Mix all in a small bowl well until med. consistency. 

Spoon dough onto a WELL GREASED cookie sheet. Tip: I use an ice cream scoop. The cookies come out the perfect size.

Bake for 15-17 minutes at 350. 

Glaze them as soon as they come out of the oven, while still hot. Leave on the sheet for 2-3 minutes after glazing. After 2-3 minutes move to cooling racks till glaze is completely "dry" or hardened. 

Yields 3 dozen.

Moving on...

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On Thursday Morning I prepared an Apple Cranberry pie, it was baked during dinner at my moms, so it was warm upon eating. I got this recipe from my dear friends the Nelson's.

Ingredients: 3-4 Granny Smith apples peeled and chopped, 1/2-3/4 cup of cranberries (if fresh, boil til soft/pop... or just throw some frozen ones), 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup sugar

 Topping: 

brown sugar

little less than 1/2 stick of butter (softened)

This is what fresh cranberries look like when they 'pop'. Drain most but not all the water you boiled them in.

 Mix all you ingredients up for the filling, in a large bowl. It may be a tad watery, you can add flour to thicken it up or spoon the filling into the pie shell, leaving some of 'juice' behind.

 The topping: melt your butter and add brown sugar till it "crumbles", there is no exact measurement here, sorry.

I spoon my filling in so its not too watery.

Smooth the topping on. It will be crunchy after baking.

Bake for 45-50 minutes at 375.

Tip: Place a cookie sheet under it as it bakes to save yourself a mess afterwards.

And lastly my favorite and most beautiful...

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Wednesday Night I made a Pumpkin Cheesecake... 

The recipe is from my friend Heather, keep in mind until THIS YEAR I was NOT a fan of pumpkin. I still DO NOT like pumpkin pie. Yuck.

Ingredients: 3 8oz containers of cream cheese (softened), 1 cup white sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cup (1/2 can) pumpkin puree, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 

Mix together well with a mixer in a larger bowl until smooth.

 Ingredients for Graham Cracker Crust: 1 1/2 cups ground up graham crackers, 1/3 cup white sugar, 6 tablespoons butter, melted, a dash of cinnamon (optional).

Mix all together in a small bowl until you no longer see any butter and the crackers are "sticky"

Using your hands take the mix and press firmly into an empty pie pan. Use all of mixture, as to make it even all the way around.

Gently pour the smooth pie mix into your freshly pressed shell.

Bake for 45-50 minutes at 350.

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**On Saturday, I also baked a Banana Nut Bread, but there are no pictures of that b/c It was for my house & this blog was not a planned thing.**

Over all like I said I was so pleased with myself. Baking is euphoria for me. I get into the kitchen, I put my apron on, turn the oven on, turn the radio/dock the iPod & get into my groove. 

I do my best baking while E is either napping or in bed for the night. The cookies & Cheesecake were done after she was in bed for the night (Tues & Weds nights) the AppleCran pie was done Thurs Morn. 

I do like to bake with her awake, too. I like her to "help" pour things into the bowl and "stir" and such. Its good for her to see me in the kitchen, enjoying it. It also such a fun bonding experience for us when she helps. 

My mom got her an apron for Christmas. I am so excited for that!

**What kind of goodies did you have at your Thanksgiving feast? Did you make them? What did you make?

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli